Hard Choices
      Chapter 7
 

Michelle's dress dropped away from her shoulders and Danny pulled her into his arms, rolling her beneath him and planting kisses on her neck, her face, her breasts -- still covered by the delicate pink lace of her bra -- and she felt her entire body flush with warmth. Danny's touch made her feel so alive, and so beautiful, and after the months they'd spent apart, she wanted to just lose herself in him, it was the reason she'd taken the risk of coming to him tonight.

Suddenly, a picture flashed in her mind. Danny, lying in bed like this with Theresa, touching her, kissing her ... she had to know. She put a hand on his chest and gently pushed him away.

"Danny, wait."

Danny rolled to his side but never broke contact with her, running his hand up and down her arm as he spoke. "What is it, sweetie?"

Michelle looked at her hands, unable to look at his face as she asked the question. I have to know, she thought. "Have you, um, been with Theresa? I mean, before I figured out what was going on, when you thought you were going to have to be with her forever ... you two have a history, she's a beautiful woman --" In spite of herself, she felt tears welling up in her eyes.

"No, God no." He lifted her chin with his finger and forced her to meet his gaze. "Michelle, you have to believe that you're the only one I want, now and forever. I had pretty much resigned myself to being celibate, because I couldn't imagine ever making love to anyone else, especially not the woman who took away my life, my future with you. I love you, Michelle, and in my heart ... and I believe, in the eyes of God ... you are still my wife." He smiled and kissed away the tear that had rolled down her cheek. "Although, I have to admit the thought of committing adultery with you is a pretty big turn-on."

Michelle traced the curve of his jaw with her finger. She loved this man so much. "It's interesting you should say that. I was going to tell you this later, after we..." she blushed involuntarily, "but I think I better tell you now. Jesse and I aren't married, Danny."

Danny sat up. "What? You were supposed to get married today, that was the plan." Even though he knew this was bad, Michelle needed to be married to Jesse for her own protection, his heart secretly soared.

"We went to the courthouse, and I almost couldn't go through with it -- I ran out, then Jesse talked me into it, and I went back and we finished the ceremony. But then afterwards, we were signing some papers with the clerk and she said she didn't show a record of my divorce being finalized, so I called Ross to ask him to fax a copy of the divorce decree, and it turns out ... even though we both signed the papers, Danny, Ross never filed them. He just sort of dragged his heels on it, hoping I'd be cleared and we'd get back together, and anyway, it comes down to this -- we're still married. You're still my husband."

Danny ran his hands through his black curls. "We're still married?" Michelle nodded and Danny couldn't help but grin as he took her back into his arms. "Well, I guess that's just one more sign that we're meant to be together. Is Jesse willing to keep up the pretense that you're married?"

"Yeah, he is. I think he was as relieved as I was that it wasn't legal. He still loves Drew, God help him. He's going to move into the garage apartment with me now that Selena's officially moved out and we'll pretend to be married for as long as it takes." She paused to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. "How long will it take, Danny?"

"Not much longer, I promise. Actually, the fact that we're still married gives me an idea, but it's risky. We'll have to talk about it. But first, I'd really like to make love to my wife."

He kissed her, gently at first, then more passionately, and they began to make love with an intensity unlike any they’d known before. There was less of the languid foreplay they’d enjoyed in the past, as both seemed to feel a sense of urgency, a need to renew their bond physically in the most basic way. Danny entered her quickly and they took up their familiar rhythm immediately, moving together, Michelle arching up to meet him with every thrust, to take him in as deeply as she could. He was kissing her everywhere he could reach, then bending his head to suckle her breasts, never stopping his movement in her, and she was caressing every inch of him with her hands, her head thrown back, and quickly, they were both there, in that moment when there was nothing in the world but the two of them and this perfect pleasure they shared …

As he moved off of her, still breathing raggedly and flushed with satisfaction, Danny looked at his wife, awed all over again by her beauty and the fact that she was his, then he lowered his head and placed gentle, tender kisses on her abdomen. He looked up at Michelle's face. "Have I told you how unbelievably happy I am that you're having our baby?"

Michelle mocked a pout. "No, as a matter of fact, you haven't. Your son and I were getting a little annoyed about it."

"A son? You think so?" Danny pulled himself up beside Michelle, so they were lying side by side, face to face. Michelle swept her hands across his chest.

"I do think so. I don't know why, but I do."

"This will work out, Michelle. We will be the family we were meant to be, the three of us. I am so sorry for all of the pain my family has caused you, but this baby is our future, a new beginning for us.” He smiled. “And I have to admit, I’m really glad there’s no chance now of our son – or daughter -- being born Baby Blue.”

Michelle giggled. “Me, too.”